Help or no help?

[Ash_Koog 0]

Have you been doing their stuff on paperwork own or are you getting help? I am not sure if I can do this on my own.

[TimsDaisy 0]

What do you mean? Are you asking if we use lawyers or navigate the process ourselves? Most here do not use lawyers. Some with complicated cases do. I think you need to expand your question a bit so we know if we can help you.

First thing to do, pause, and start reading everything you can - the guides and FAQ here, and all applicable information at www.uscis.gov.

It isn't TOO complicated a process if you take a deep breath and do some homework.

[MaydayDas 1]

For us was enough this wonderful web site to understand what we have to do.....Viva VJ!

[bszoom42 0]

I spent a month doing the wrong kind of research (was very confused between the different kinds of visas.) After finding VisaJourney, everything became very clear. I wish I found it sooner, because even though everything is written plain and clear here in the guides, and the members are very helpful, I'm very slow to learn things. I needed to read things 4 or 5 times to sink in. For example, even though I read all the guides at least 3 times before filing, I still made the following mistakes that I wouldn't make now:

1. I used "N/A" without listing the reason why N/A; for example, I would now write "N/A - single, never married".

2. Although I listed all the contents on my cover letter, I did not use tabs to help the Adjudicator find the appropriate section faster.

3. I did a lot of the printing using an Inkjet color printer; since then, I found that the quality difference between a color laserjet and inkjet is huge; and I would reprint everything using a color laserjet.

4. I would have sent more primary evidence of how we met in the past two years. Even though I sent many pictures, boarding passes, visa entry/exit stamps, and receipts of purchases; I did not send everything I had. I would have sent the movie ticket stubs we had and all of the receipts from purchases.

If I found this website while I was still in India; I would have taken photos of us together in front of a some public place with the date showing in the background. I also would have made an effort to get receipts with both of our names on it - at the time; I had thought that just the photographs were enough.

Anyway, best of luck to you and your journey!

[pushbrk 14,507]

Have you been doing their stuff on paperwork own or are you getting help? I am not sure if I can do this on my own.

Most of the people here got help here. You've come to the right place. Start by studying the guides and then come back with any questions.

[TimsDaisy 0]

I spent a month doing the wrong kind of research (was very confused between the different kinds of visas.) After finding VisaJourney, everything became very clear. I wish I found it sooner, because even though everything is written plain and clear here in the guides, and the members are very helpful, I'm very slow to learn things. I needed to read things 4 or 5 times to sink in. For example, even though I read all the guides at least 3 times before filing, I still made the following mistakes that I wouldn't make now:

1. I used "N/A" without listing the reason why N/A; for example, I would now write "N/A - single, never married".

2. Although I listed all the contents on my cover letter, I did not use tabs to help the Adjudicator find the appropriate section faster.

3. I did a lot of the printing using an Inkjet color printer; since then, I found that the quality difference between a color laserjet and inkjet is huge; and I would reprint everything using a color laserjet.

4. I would have sent more primary evidence of how we met in the past two years. Even though I sent many pictures, boarding passes, visa entry/exit stamps, and receipts of purchases; I did not send everything I had. I would have sent the movie ticket stubs we had and all of the receipts from purchases.

If I found this website while I was still in India; I would have taken photos of us together in front of a some public place with the date showing in the background. I also would have made an effort to get receipts with both of our names on it - at the time; I had thought that just the photographs were enough.

Anyway, best of luck to you and your journey!

This is good advice, for the most part, but comes in a step past where it seems the OP is in the journey. Also, just factually, I don't believe giving an explanation for N/A responses is necessary (never says in the instructions to do so). Also, with evidence, it is almost universally a case where quality will win out over quantity. You don't want to shove a pile of stuff at the adjudicators. There's stuff that is important and that they'll expect to see and will be comfortable seeing. That is what needs to be included. Photos are always very low on that list and ARE NOT sufficient evidence to prove meeting w/in the last 2 years. They are nice. They can help. But they aren't the bottom line.

To the OP - take a deep breath, go to the guides here and see what kind of visa you think you need. then go to www.uscis.gov and go to "immigration forms" - read the instructions for the I-129F. Read them again. Read them a 3d time. Then come back here, check the guides and the FAQ again, and you'll probably find that you understand a lot more than before you read all that information.

It's a steep, fast learning curve. It won't be so scary for too long. Promise.

[cellarlily 0]

If you're filing for K-1 or K-3 with no prior overstays or anything that might cause concern for USCIS, you should be okay filing it yourself. The guides on this website are fantastic, and there's hundreds and thousands of people here who have gone through the same thing who are willing to help (usually) if you ever have questions.

Likewise, if you get confused by forms or don't feel completely confident in doing this process yourself, seek advice of an immigration lawyer. They will cost you, but they will help.

K-3 guide: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k3guide (print it out and use it as a checklist to make sure you have all the required documents)

K-3 flowchart: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=k3flow (so you know what's going on and about how long it takes for things to happen)

Good luck!

[Jamie76 0]

I ended up using an attorney. I know we could have done this on our own, but I just don't want to take any chances. I am in the process of moving, so having someone that's able to take care of things while I am moving is just one less thing to stress out about.

[msu17 0]

Have you been doing their stuff on paperwork own or are you getting help? I am not sure if I can do this on my own.

Most of the people here got help here. You've come to the right place. Start by studying the guides and then come back with any questions.

I disagree. Most people I've talked to have NOT used a lawyer. Your experience must be different from mine. Do you need a lawyer? No. Can you use one? Of course. What i would do in your case is read over everything Timsdaisy has pointed out several times (give yourself a week or two to let it all sink in) and then decide if you feel confident enough to do it on your own. Good luck!

Edit: If you do decide on a lawyer, MAKE 100% SURE they are experienced with family based petitions such as the K1. Too many horror stories of incompitent lawyers messing peoples cases up and causing months in delays.

Edited May 23, 2007 by msu17

[pushbrk 14,507]

Have you been doing their stuff on paperwork own or are you getting help? I am not sure if I can do this on my own.

Most of the people here got help here. You've come to the right place. Start by studying the guides and then come back with any questions.

I disagree. Most people I've talked to have NOT used a lawyer. Your experience must be different from mine. Do you need a lawyer? No. Can you use one? Of course. What i would do in your case is read over everything Timsdaisy has pointed out several times (give yourself a week or two to let it all sink in) and then decide if you feel confident enough to do it on your own. Good luck!

Edit: If you do decide on a lawyer, MAKE 100% SURE they are experienced with family based petitions such as the K1. Too many horror stories of incompitent lawyers messing peoples cases up and causing months in delays.

Who or what are you disagreeing with. Nobody indicated most people used a lawyer. I said most people here got help here. No mention of a lawyer in my post.

[msu17 0]

Have you been doing their stuff on paperwork own or are you getting help? I am not sure if I can do this on my own.

Most of the people here got help here. You've come to the right place. Start by studying the guides and then come back with any questions.

I disagree. Most people I've talked to have NOT used a lawyer. Your experience must be different from mine. Do you need a lawyer? No. Can you use one? Of course. What i would do in your case is read over everything Timsdaisy has pointed out several times (give yourself a week or two to let it all sink in) and then decide if you feel confident enough to do it on your own. Good luck!

Edit: If you do decide on a lawyer, MAKE 100% SURE they are experienced with family based petitions such as the K1. Too many horror stories of incompitent lawyers messing peoples cases up and causing months in delays.

Who or what are you disagreeing with. Nobody indicated most people used a lawyer. I said most people here got help here. No mention of a lawyer in my post.

Haha, sorry! This is why watching tv, talking on teh phone and responding is not a good idea! My bad

[Ash_Koog 0]

What do you mean? Are you asking if we use lawyers or navigate the process ourselves? Most here do not use lawyers. Some with complicated cases do. I think you need to expand your question a bit so we know if we can help you.

First thing to do, pause, and start reading everything you can - the guides and FAQ here, and all applicable information at www.uscis.gov.

It isn't TOO complicated a process if you take a deep breath and do some homework.

Have you been doing their stuff on paperwork own or are you getting help? I am not sure if I can do this on my own.

Ok so I have never been apart of any kind of information station like VJ before. This is all new to me. As is the immigration requirements and statutes of the US.

My question is, being as naive as I am I don't know if I can do all it takes without having an attorney. It is quite possible we are going to have numerous problems getting through USCIS. I have read, reread and Printed and highlighted all the information, off the USCIS and State Dept website. Plus a dozen other websites under Google k i visa. and get so many conflicting stories. I feel overwhelmed by the information, There is so much and I don't understand most of it.

We have talked about hiring someone, and have talked to a couple different attorneys but still get conflicting accounts on what needs to happen. I don't know how things can run so different from firm to firm. I am so afraid if I do it, it will be my fault we can't be together.

[kitkat1 5]

If you do not feel confident about your ability to understand and correctly organize the paperwork or you believe your case is more complicated than normal, you should certainly start by having a consultation with a qualified immigration attorney.

[Dan J 277]

Its not really hard if you break it up and take it piece by piece. Trying to understand the entire process from start to finish will be overwelming, but you dont need to know all of it right away.

Your first set would be to prepare the petition and mail it to the service center covering your area. Preparing the petition is pretty easy as long as you dont have any criminal convictions, overstays, or have filed multiple petitions.

Depending where you send your petition to, it may take a month, or it may take three. But it it will eventually get approved and by then you will be able to know what to expect.

[pushbrk 14,507]

It is quite possible we are going to have numerous problems getting through USCIS.

If you have specific concerns that you think will complicate your case, definitely consult an attorney with experience directly related to those complications.